Related Stories

Topics

The Canadians realize that winning gold at the world junior championship isn't theirs to do by right, as they have been saying.

But with that, the idea that it's "gold or nothing" at the world junior should be put to bed. Head coach Steve Spott used those words back on Dec. 4 when the roster for the selection camp was announced, not the first time Hockey Canada officials used that term.

If it's not their right to win, then accept the fact that you're not always going to emerge with the best medal possible.

Canada will play Russia for bronze Saturday, and though it might take years to sink in, going home with a lesser medal won't be the worst thing the players have done in their lives.

"It's tough, but by the time it is game day we will be ready to go," said defenceman Scott Harrington, who won bronze last winter in Calgary. "It's not the colour we want, but winning the bronze medal was something to be proud of and it was a good feeling. That is where all of our energy is focused now."

Spott said the message for the players after the game was straightforward.

"We came a long way and we still have an opportunity to get a medal," Spott said. "It's not the colour we want, but we owe it to Canadian fans to come home with a medal.

"We have to explain the importance of it and you have to drive that into the players. There are a lot of people, Hockey Canada, our Canadian fans, that have supported us through this process and we owe it to them."

If Canada has true designs on winning, it must play with more urgency than it did against the Americans.

"We did not have the same desperation as the Americans did," Spott said. "They simply outworked our hockey club. There is no excuse for that."

"I wanted us to dominate every aspect of the game," the United States captain said. "They didn't know what hit them in the first. We could tell.

"They were throwing the puck away and we really had them on their heels. That is the way we are going to have to come out in the gold-medal game."

Ah yes, the gold-medal game. The Americans will meet Sweden for the biggest prize at the 2013 world junior championship Saturday.

"It is why you put the jersey on," said McCabe, who had two goals against Canada, including the winner. "You don't go to the gold-medal game and hope for silver, I'll tell you that."

Though some might consider Russia to be Canada's biggest hockey rival, if that's the case, the U.S. is not far off.

"Seeing the American flag rise up, it is pretty special beating a team like Canada," McCabe, a Buffalo Sabres prospect, said. "It's such an emotional game. Let alone the win, it's awesome, especially against Canada. It's the best game of the tournament we have played so far."

Give the U.S. credit. They had just three returning players -- goalie John Gibson, defenceman Jacob Trouba and forward J.T. Miller -- from the team that finished seventh last year in Alberta.

But head coach Phil Housley and USA Hockey formed a group that was solid all the way through, whether it was on the blueline or at forward. Defensively, they have been solid, and offensively, the scoring has come from a variety of players. The team has not needed to have star forward Alex Galchenyuk be his best at this tournament.

"Last year they had a good team and it did not work out," Housley said. "This year, it just seems that each game we have got better. In the losses we had, I thought we played well. We've stuck with our game plan and some guys broke out."

And now, the possibility to win gold exists. The Americans have won it just twice at the world junior, in 2004 and 2010.

"They know what is at stake," Housley said. "You have to let players enjoy this. We will re-focus. How many opportunities in your playing career are you going to be able to play for a gold medal?"

Griffin Reinhart facing possible suspension

Canada could be down a player for the bronze-medal game.

Defenceman Griffin Reinhart faces a review with the International Ice Hockey Federation Friday morning after he received a high-sticking minor in the semifinal against the United States.

Reinhart struck American forward Vince Trocheck, who was not hurt, in the head during the second period of the Americans' 5-1 victory. It did not appear to be intentional.

Canada has run into suspension trouble at the world junior. Boone Jenner missed three games for a charging incident against Sweden in an exhibition game and JC Lipon was suspended for one game after his check to the head of a Slovakia player during the preliminary round.

World junior notes: Bronze would be better than nothing for Canada

The Canadians realize that winning gold at the world junior championship isn't theirs to do by right, as they have been saying.

But with that, the idea that it's "gold or nothing" at the world junior should be put to bed. Head coach Steve Spott used those words back on Dec. 4 when the roster for the selection camp was announced, not the first time Hockey Canada officials used that term.